DreamBig 2015 - #40 Iowa

STATE #40 - Des Moines, Iowa
36th Dam to Dam
Finishers: 6,963

May 29, 2015
So you know the phrase "taking the route less traveled"? Well a word of advice - don't do this the day before a half marathon and spend almost an entire day flying around the country just to save $50. I changed my itinerary last minute so that I would fly into Omaha instead of Des Moines so I could keep Kali company on her drive. This meant waking up at 3:30am to finish packing or unpacking (I really don't know these days) so that I could get to the airport and catch my 6am flight to...Denver.

I was a bit bummed because I have a routine of getting a #7 breakfast (which is a #8 at the airport) from Chick-Fil-a the morning of race travel but I figured it wouldn't be open that early - SURPRISE it was - thank goodness. I didn't want to drink coffee because I planned to sleep on the flight to Denver but I ordered it out of habit and drank it anyways. I landed in Denver at 7:40am local time and was able to work a half day on my long layover before my flight to Omaha.

ATL - DEN - OMA (Fueled by Chicken Egg and Cheese Bagel)

All packed and ready to go!

4th state in like...8 hours

Kali picked me up at the Omaha airport and I went to go see her new apartment where we worked for a while longer and then went to grab lunch and catch up before getting back on the road to Iowa. We left Omaha around 4pm and drove the two hours to Iowa where we met her sister, Shari, and uncles Dan and Jim, at the expo. Oddly enough, Kali may live in Omaha but I have met a large majority of her extended family. The Dam to Dam expo was awesome! First of all, our goodie bags had free Brooks socks and then the expo itself also had free beer, free pizza, free sandwiches, free ginormous bowls of Goldfish (we know where I camped out). We hung around for a while and then headed downtown to The Old Spaghetti Works to put on name on the list. While we were waiting we wandered down the block to the only thing in Des Moines, IA that I knew about. If you watched the Chris Soules season of the Bachelor, this wall will look very familiar! I was rather bummed that Chris and Whitney just broke up - but maybe that makes this picture even better.

HUGE bowls of Goldfish at the Expo

Way too excited about a reality show "prop"

A random dad got really creative with the angles...

After dinner, Kali and I went to Walgreens to pick up some race essentials and after a very long day of travel we finally all got to bed at Shari's around 11:30PM for a 3:50AM wakeup call.

May 30, 2015
Usually when my alarm goes off on race day, I hop to my feet and I am ready to rock n' roll. This day I was absolutely exhausted and staggered through my prerace morning, while Kali and Shari slowly woke up as well. I hate to say it - but I was just not feeling it. I decided to wear all black since Race #40 was sort of like having an "Over the Hill" birthday. Sort of? The race was a point to point race so we had to catch a bus to take us north to the start. Around 5:15am we walked to the bus stop about 4 blocks away from Shari's apartment and then traveled the course up to the start, I slept the entire way - like couldn't keep my eyes open. It wasn't super cold out but it was a bit windy and it started to drizzle soon after we arrived at the start area. Luckily, I had brought a space blanket from the finish of a past race and I advised Shari and Kali to put on trash bags to stay warm and dry.

On the bus to the Dam - before I fell asleep

Kali struggling to stay warm - people thought (knew) we were crazy

Lil Ash - just wrapped up like a Burrito

The race didn't start until 7am so we stood around all huddled together for a long time. I was on the ground in a ball (sleeping) probably looking like a burrito to any passerby. Finally, the crowds all started to move and we made our way out on to the Saylorville Dam where the race would begin. Shari opted to hang back while Kali and I head up further towards the front.

Walking to the start line

Sawyerville Dam - Part One of the "Dam to Dam" race

When the race started, I felt pretty good for the first mile of so but quickly realized I was in no mood to talk with Kali like I usually am capable of doing. We were keeping a good pace but I just wasn't feeling strong. Coming back from my runner's knee, I didn't wear my brace since I hadn't had any recent pain but I also had not trained at all since I had been traveling for work since my last race. Kali had done an awesome job training and I could tell she was feeling good.

Mile 1 sign - congrats.

It was still cool and a bit drizzly but not uncomfortable by any means. For the first chunk of the race, it was all nature, farms and fields.The last race I had like this was in Omaha (#15) with Kali back in 2013. At Mile 5 we hit a little hill that brought us over the interstate and after that I just couldn't get my stride back, my legs were just tired. I was exhausted. As always, I knew I would finish but I had to focus on running my own race and the last thing I wanted to do was hold Kali back especially after she had trained. Mile 6 to 7 was all uphill - which I can usually dominate but today not so much. I told Kali that when we got to Mile 7, I needed her to leave me. So once we got to the top of the hill, I took my snapchat video and then said my goodbyes and sent her on her way. By Mile 7 we had also rejoined civilization so we had a little more to look at.

As we continued into Des Moines, I was being very mentally negative and hard on myself and that is the worst attitude to have while competing in a race - especially when for my goal it is all just for FUN and the experience. When I got to the water stop around Mile 8.5, I grabbed a water and a Powerade, stopped to take my energy gel, regrouped, got my mind right and convinced myself I was going to have a good rest of the race. I didn't walk - I just literally stopped. I needed a restart and an attitude adjustment - I pretty much put my brain in timeout until it was ready to finish the "Dam" thing (see what I did there?). The next few miles were on bike trails and neighborhood roads and I felt much better. We did some rolling hills along the river but being able to see the city in the distance was helpful. Ticking off the miles, I could see the Mile 11 flag up ahead after going over the Central Street Dam and the last two miles would take us along the Des Moines River and back into town. Mile 11 was on the river walk past the Farmer's Market and these short but steep little hills made my poor little knee start to cry - but we were getting close!

Taken post race - but 200 and 100 meter signs before finish

We turned onto MLK Drive and I saw the "1 More Mile" flag and knew not to push it, but that the end was near. We turned up 15th street which of course was a hill...as always...and the signs started counting down the meters left. 400 meters - working my way up the hill. 200 meters - turning the corner down Grand. I wish there was a finish line camera because once I hit the 100 meters sign my legs didn't have anything left but my arms sure did. I was swinging and pumping my arms all over the place trying to give it once last pull to the finish (this is a lot more funny of an image in person - feel free to ask me to show you). The clock was all off when I crossed the finish line but I didn't care about my time - I had finished my 40TH half marathon. 40! I felt 40 during the entire thing (no offense if you are 40 - you look great). I got my medal and choked back my unreasonable emotional tears and easily found Kali right past the finish line.

Snapchat check in - so happy to be done. And cold. 

Kali checking to make sure the medal was....edible?

I will run any race that has tables full of cookies at the finish.

We were both freezing but still made our way through the finish area where they had everything from free icecream, chocolate milk, fruit, kettle corn, a big cookie buffet, BBQ sandwiches and of course beer. We gobbled up a few things and then decided to run back (not really..more like limped back) to Shari's to grab some warm clothes before we met her at the finish. We passed the sculpture park on the way and stopped to take my official photo and then came back and met Shari and the Uncles at the beer festivities. Of course me being me didn't really want beer so Kali and I got coffee instead. After the cold set in for everyone, we went back to the apartment to clean up before grabbing some meatball subs at Gusto Pizza and then getting a pedicure. Kali - best idea ever.

Official Race Pic - 40 states down, 10 more to go! #DREAMBIG

Medal - Bib - #40 Check!

Everyone needed a nap (except me who is insane and couldn't sleep) so we chilled and then met up with Kali's friend Liz and her boyfriend at El Bait Shop for a drink and dinner. Let me make an observation that the majority of men in Iowa are ginormous. I actually felt small for once (and I'm only 5'5). I was told it is because they are corn fed and raised to work in fields - valid point. We got to bed early for a much needed night of sleep.

More hijacked photos:

May 31, 2015
It was a slow morning but I watched Gilligan's Island and Saved by the Bell while the two sisters slept. We decided to grab brunch at Mullets before Kali and I head back to Omaha. I was relatively tipsy after one Bloody Mary (I know - it's pitiful) but the sweet potato tots and breakfast burrito were quite grand. We got back to Omaha around 2:30PM and hit up the free Yoga in the Park right next to Kali's apartment at 4PM which was much needed. Kali brought me to the airport around 6:15PM where I learned my flight through STL was delayed so they rerouted me through MDW and I was all confused and kept almost missing flights (maybe because when at MDW, you must get Ben & Jerry's) but finally got back to ATL around 1:30AM. Nothing like a long night of travel after an exhausting weekend!

Des Moines skyline pics from brunch

40 states down, 10 more to go!
#DREAMBIG

DreamBig 2015 - #39 Indiana

STATE #39 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Indy 500 Mini Marathon
Finishers: 22,479

May 1, 2015
I had just flown in from Saint Louis the night before from a work trip and was super exhausted but had to pack. After throwing a few things in a bag, I walked to Midtown Marta to head for the airport for my flight at 10:30am. One thing that was different with this race than other races, is that I had recently sustained a random injury that I was not in the highest spirits about. Back during the week of April 20th, I decided to take a trail run up on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN. That night after the run I was walking down a flight of stairs and my right knee tightened up. I thought it was a fluke but the pain stayed with me the rest of that week and I got an urgent appointment with an orthopedist in Atlanta who confirmed I was fine but I had "Runner's Knee" and needed to rehab it. If you have been following my life, you are well aware "rest" doesn't fit too well on to my "To Do" list but I took the doctor's advice and stayed off of it a few days (until my triathlon that Sunday). I got a brace from running store and seriously did try and not put too much stress on it because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't mess up my upcoming race schedule. That being said, after my triathlon on the 26th, I stayed off of my knee all week so I would be ready for Indy.

When I arrived in Indiana, I picked up my car and started driving around looking for potential race day attire that had some sort of car racing theme. After not much luck, my friend Paul called to let me know he was getting close to town so we decided to meet near the Motor Speedway. Paul is a entirely different story of its own.

Back in January of 2014, Gregg and I went out to California to see Auburn play in the National Championship at the Rose Bowl. Sadly after the lose, I had to take a train from LA back down to San Diego where I had work for the week. While I was at the Los Angeles Union Station waiting on my train, a guy came up (Paul) and apologized for the Auburn loss and told me he went to Mississippi State and was pulling for Auburn to win. We ended up sitting near each other on the train and talking college football and he told me about living in Carlsbad, CA and we exchanged numbers since I was out in San Diego every now and then for work. Fast forward almost a year and a half later, we had stayed in touch on and off and he had moved to Evansville, Indiana and told me he wanted to run one of my half marathons with me. So low and behold, after not seeing each other for about a year and a half, I meet Paul at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

We found a little shop across from the entrance hoping they had T-Shirts and postcards but what we ended up with was a real treat. The owner of this little shop, Jim Bob Luebbert, told us all about the shops history and his career in racing and traveling the world and even brought us to the back of the store to show us his signed album from when Journey and Meatloaf came to the store. This shop was full of an incredible amount of memorabilia and I doubt he knows or even cares how much he could sell it all for. We had a great time listening to his stories.

Right across the street from Jim Bob's shop

We head downtown to the expo to pick up our race numbers and shirts and then wandered over to look at Lucas Oil Stadium where the Colts play. As we were driving back to Paul's truck, I asked him how his training for the race had been going and he admitted the most he had run was 2 miles. TWO MILES!!!!! I almost flipped. This kid had no clue what he was getting himself into. I thought I was going to struggle with a sore knee but I knew that Paul would most likely be driving the struggle bus.

Lucas Oil Stadium - Hey Andrew Luck!

I dropped him off at his truck and we agreed to meet up later for dinner. I checked in to my hotel and then met Paul and his friends, Jackie and Scott, who he was staying with while in town, at Maggiano's for dinner. They were as sweet as could be and I was happy to get to hang out with a nice group prerace to keep my mind off things. After dinner we went back to their house as Jackie had a surprise cookie cake for Scott's upcoming birthday and we all hung out on their cute little patio until it was time for me to head to my hotel and catch some Zzzzzz's. Oh, and pray Paul didn't die the next day.

Race Shirt - More appropriate of a T-Shirt than I expected

May 2, 2015
Up and nervous as always, I made some oatmeal and then head over to Jackie and Scott's to pick up Paul around 6:55am who was ready and waiting in the driveway. Reminding him (and myself) that this was all just for fun, I tried to take the attention of the fact this may be an interesting morning for the two of us. We were able to get downtown and parked seamlessly and then walked to the start of the race. The Indy 500 Mini is the nations largest half with a total of 22,435 finishing the half this year. We wandered around so I could give Paul and idea of how huge this race was and then we settled back in his corral where I promised I would stay with him once the race started as long as possible.

PreRace Starting Line

Made sure to get a pre picture...in case one of us didn't make it

A crowd of 22,000+

The Colts cheerleaders joined us at the Start Line to get the festivities going along with the pump up music. Our corral took off, and Paul was able to run with me for the first 2 miles and then admitted that was the first time he had run 2 miles straight and he needed to walk. We agreed we would meet at the finish (no, that's a lie - I sort of just took off) and I headed off to try and pick up some lost time. I was in my knee brace which isn't the most mobile contraption in the world but I was happy I had decided to wear it even though I was feeling better after a week of rest.

After 39 years of the race, this was the 500th mile at mile 2.2 of the course (39 * 13.1 = 497.8)

So I took some time to look into what this blow up thing was (thanks Megan for questioning me). This was the 39th year the Indy Mini had been going on in Indianapolis. 39 years of a 13.1 mile race is a total of 497.8 miles. This blow up thing was at mile 2.2 of the course, so starting here was the 500th mile of the Indy Mini series over the years. Pretty cool to participate at this point of history for the event!

The amount of water stops on the course was incredible and a lot of fan support as well many of which who had dressed up in themes. I ran a fairly quick 4th mile and then decided to cool it or else I would lose steam way before the finish. The obvious most exciting part of the race was turning into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the two and a half mile lap around the track. No matter how much pain that may come from running, these are the moments I realize how crazy my goal is and the amazing things it has enabled me to do. I was in awe of the size of the track and I made the long lap around. I know nothing about car racing, but Cindy Parres had told me the night before via text that I had to make sure to "kiss the bricks". I had no clue what she was talking about, but sure enough near Mile 8, I saw people dropping down to their knees and kissing the strip of bricks that crossed the track. As gross as it was to kiss the ground 22,000+ runners were crossing, I kept my promise and joined in the tradition.

Inside on the track!

Running down what I assume is the end of the races

Kissing the Bricks

As we left the track, I knew I only had about 4.5 miles to go and I was getting a bit tired. The weather, might I add, was cool enough to wear a tank top but not too hot that I was melting (a lesson I had learned the hard way in Michigan). I sort of just chugged along through Mile 8 and 9 and got a bit of a second wind and hit a nice steady pace and I started into Mile 10 and 11. Since I had studied the map, I knew once I got to Mile 12, it would be a turn back into downtown Indianapolis and a slight uphill mile to the finish. That last mile feels like a million miles, but I did my best to pick up the pace and really took off once the finish line was in sight with about 400m left to go. Giving it my signature "you shouldn't have this much gas left in the tank" kick, I made my way across the finish line to complete my 39th half marathon. All factors coming into play, it by far was not one of my better times, but the goal is completion and a good time is always just a bonus!

The walk to get the medal felt like ages away, but with my check flag medal in hand, I went and got my race picture taken and waited for Paul to finish. Luckily, we had both signed up for the race notifications so I knew how far behind me he was every couple miles of the race. When I finished he was near Mile 11 and finished about 35 minutes after I was done - but still under 3 hours which was his goal with his run/walk approach.

Post Race Snapchat CheckIn

Indy with our new hardware

Paul....unable to walk

We got our photos taken and our fair share of post race snacks and then headed to take some more post race photos before heading to brunch at Patachou where we got incredible stuffed French Toast which was well deserved. I had a mid afternoon flight, so we said our farewells and I headed back to the airport.

Official Race Pic - 39 states down, 11 more to go! #DREAMBIG

Medal - Bib - #39 check

Alright, so I took this pictures of the website and some of them have my dying laughing. I swear I am running in this races and not just doing a scavenger hunt for the photographers...

Bear claw? Like whats happening...

Rockin that head lean again

Paul did indeed finish

By far my favorite

On the track

Peace signs...cus I'm in 5th grade

Oh okay, I actually do run 

Such a happy camper to be done....?

May 3, 2015
While I am humbly bragging about myself in this entire blog, I might add that this next morning after my half marathon, Gregg, Jack and I competed in the Atlanta TriPathlon in Chastain Park up in Buckhead Atlanta and I pulled off 2nd place in my age group. A seriously crazy weekend but I wouldn't have it any other way! Megan came and brought Tupelo who was obviously the most popular person at the race.

Gregg, Jack, Kristina and I then went to the afternoon Braves Game which I then had to leave during the 7th inning to race down to the airport to catch a flight out to Saint Louis for work...once again. As OneRepublic says "I swear I lived."

Tupelo and my 2nd Place 25-29  Finisher Backpack Post Race

Had they given me Cheez-Its as my prize, I would've been just as happy

Braves game - kickin' my feet up in Left Field - thanks Gregg =)

39 states down, 11 more to go!
#DREAMBIG